Towns under ember attack as fire moves south
- Carmel Egan
- February 7, 2009 - 2:20PM
- Page 1 of 2 | Single Page View
UPDATE 2.28pm: The Country Fire Authority has issued a number of urgent threat messages as fire activity increases throughout the state. More more information, click here.
Labertouche and Labertouche North are under ember attack as the Bunyip Ridge fire moves south driven by strong northerly winds.
The Age reporter Geoff Strong, just outside Labertouche, reports that the flames are now fierce, with embers and spot fires driving the fire southwards.
The Bunyip fire broke containment lines near Pakenham about 3am and has been gathering pace this afternoon, driven by hot north-westerly winds, towards the tiny Gippsland communities of Labertouche, Neerim, and Jindivick.
Bunyip State Park is closed to all vehicles except emergency services and all Gippsland rail services have been cancelled.
The Hume Freeway is also closed from Wallan to Broadford.
It is estimated the fire is burning across 165 hectares.
Should the fire continue in this direction it will also threaten the townships of Drouin and Warragul.
Mr Strong said the fire was "looking really ugly".
Authorities warn that the Princes Highway may be cut off this afternoon.
Lines supplying electricity to Melbourne were also under threat earlier this afternoon.
SP Ausnet spokeswoman Louise Graham said the fire front had now passed through the power line easement.
"We like to keep those areas very closely monitored so they are clean of any possible fuels that might threaten the asset and threaten power supplies," she said.
"We're working very closely with the fire agencies to keep an eye on the situation."
Paul Bird, a spokesman for the electricity market regulator NEMMCO, said there would be sufficient power to Melbourne regardless of the fire outcome.
"We've still got reserve in place and we still believe we'll have it covered this afternoon, but that situation could change," he said. Continued...
UPDATE 2.28pm: The Country Fire Authority has issued a number of urgent threat messages as fire activity increases throughout the state. More more information, click here.
Labertouche and Labertouche North are under ember attack as the Bunyip Ridge fire moves south driven by strong northerly winds.
The Age reporter Geoff Strong, just outside Labertouche, reports that the flames are now fierce, with embers and spot fires driving the fire southwards.
The Bunyip fire broke containment lines near Pakenham about 3am and has been gathering pace this afternoon, driven by hot north-westerly winds, towards the tiny Gippsland communities of Labertouche, Neerim, and Jindivick.
Bunyip State Park is closed to all vehicles except emergency services and all Gippsland rail services have been cancelled.
The Hume Freeway is also closed from Wallan to Broadford.
It is estimated the fire is burning across 165 hectares.
Should the fire continue in this direction it will also threaten the townships of Drouin and Warragul.
Mr Strong said the fire was "looking really ugly".
Authorities warn that the Princes Highway may be cut off this afternoon.
Lines supplying electricity to Melbourne were also under threat earlier this afternoon.
SP Ausnet spokeswoman Louise Graham said the fire front had now passed through the power line easement.
"We like to keep those areas very closely monitored so they are clean of any possible fuels that might threaten the asset and threaten power supplies," she said.
"We're working very closely with the fire agencies to keep an eye on the situation."
Paul Bird, a spokesman for the electricity market regulator NEMMCO, said there would be sufficient power to Melbourne regardless of the fire outcome.
"We've still got reserve in place and we still believe we'll have it covered this afternoon, but that situation could change," he said. Continued...
